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EDINBURG - The University of Texas-Pan American College of Business Administration has been awarded a $1,500 grant by the Southern Business Administration Association to study international business simulation as a skills building tool for entry level business students.

According to Dr. Jane LeMaster, research coordinator for the international business simulation study and assistant professor of management and international business at UTPA, the use of simulations, games and more recently computer simulations have been used in higher education for many years and there is no question that students have fun and enjoy the games, but there is little evidence, however, that shows comprehension and understanding of the concepts.

"If the results of this study show that cognition performance has indeed increased, then we can recommend simulation as a skill and cognition building tool for entry level business students," LeMaster said.

From initial studies using this integrated international business simulation, retention has increased and there are fewer failing grades, LeMaster added. Although anecdotal evidence suggests knowledge accumulation, there is no support that learning has increased with the use of simulation.

"We must demand more than increased retention and increased grades if we are going to facilitate academic success for our students," LeMaster said.

The $1,500 will be used to employ a graduate assistant to build a database and run statistics and a lab assistant to help with the simulations and the development of survey instruments, as well as for photocopies, office supplies and computer time.

LeMaster will be recognized at the Southern Business Administration Association meeting Dec. 31.

For more information on the International Business Simulation Study, contact LeMaster at 956/381-3317.